Think the Kimberleys are all red dirt and desert? Think again. The remote reaches of the region bring you to Cape Leveque, an orange-hued beach that does take a fair commute; it’s a little over 200 kilometres north of Broome.

Busselton is an easy two-hour day trip south of Perth along the highway and the beachfront is easily spotted on approach. Park near the centre of town; your first stop will likely be Busselton Jetty, which is almost two kilometres out to sea.

Visitors have to travel to the edge of Cape Le Grand National Park, a winding, hour’s drive east of Esperance to explore the pristine Lucky Bay as it sweeps over the Great Australian Bight. Despite its isolation, you might have to share your towel – it’s a favourite among local kangaroos.

Instead of turning inland from Cervantes to explore the limestone spires of the Pinnacles Desert, turn toward the water. Hangover Bay is a 12-minute drive down Indian Ocean Drive from the township, through Nambung National Park and a perfect vantage point from spotting bottlenose dolphins.

Of all the jewels in the Esperance coastal crown, Twilight Beach is the centrepiece. Granite cliffs are kissed by clear blue waters and icing-sugar sand provides the perfect place to enjoy the sunshine, especially as it’s just a few minutes’ drive from Esperance.

The waters of Ningaloo Reef are famous for their inhabitants – some of which happen to be the world’s largest fish, the majestic whale shark. Turquoise Bay is only a few metres from the reef itself, so be sure to bring your snorkel.

Surfers froth at the thought of Yallingup Beach, a 40-minute drive north of Margaret River,and its clean, sizeable swell. Don’t worry if you’re not skilled in the art – there’s a lagoon for lazy wading, too.

Jurabi Coastal Park, which graces the western edge of the North West Cape, teems with aquatic life, especially turtles, starfish and crabs. It’s a 15-minute drive from Exmouth.

Eighty Mile Beach is definitely a misnomer – it’s actually the longest uninterrupted beach in Western Australia, stretching for almost 220 kilometres (137 miles, to be exact). You can find a spot on it shores somewhere between Broome and Port Hedland.

A half hour drive east of Albany, Nanarup Beach is a common spot for local fisherfolk and surfers to while away a few hours. If you’re lucky, you could hook herring, whiting and skippy, the three most common fish in the area.

Just south of the famed Coogee Beach in Perth is the much quieter Woodman Point where calm shallow waters make for great swimming and gazebos and barbecues provide the perfect setting for twilight dining.

Regarded as one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, Cottesloe gathers eager swimmers.

Drive an easy 90 minutes from Hobart towards Port Arthur; Crescent Bay is just another 10 minutes up the road. Take the first left after town until you reach the Remarkable Cave car park and follow the marked trail down to the sand.

You’ll know Tasmania’s striking Bay of Fires beaches by the vibrant-orange, lichen-blanketed rocks that contrast with the calm cream of the sparkling sands. The conservation area is just three hour’s drive east of Launceston and there are plenty of camping sites, including the adorably named Cosy Corner.

Ocean Beach, a few kilometres from the town of Strahan, is the longest beach in Tasmania: 20 kilometres of the purest, natural beauty, with barely any crowds.

Families love Boat Harbour beach, a rocky stretch two hour’s drive west of Launceston. Dolphins, whales and seals often stop into the calm waters here, best admired from one of the many rock pools scattered around the sand.

Honeymoon Bay graces the fabulous Freycinet Bay peninsula, distinguishing itself from others with scoop of rocky ranges and deep terracotta-coloured rocks framing the water. It’s a pleasant 10-minute walk from the Freycinet National Park Visitor Centre.

Not all beaches have a coastline. Around the edges of Lake Rhona, an inland lake deep in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, the beach graces the foothills of the Denison Ranges and can only be reached by a two-day hike, leaving it isolated and free from crowds.

All you need to do to get there from Darwin is walk; it lies on the city’s outskirts. The best time to visit is at the same time as the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, which start in April each year and run through the dry season, so you can grab a fragrant bowl of laksa to each beachside as you watch the sun set.

Sailing clubs cluster at Vesteys Beach, a popular boating spot a 10-minute drive north of Darwin proper. Boat is the preferred mode of transport here, as opposed to swimming, as box jellyfish, sharks and crocodiles seasonally drop into the area for a closer look at the shore.

A 15-minute flight from East Arnhem Land’s Gove brings you to Bremer Island, a tranquil, private resort that’s more beach than land. Activities on the island include fishing, sunset cruises to search for dolphins or simply relaxing on the sand.

The foreshore is frequently populated by food trucks, anglers dangling their feet off the Nightcliff Jetty hoping for a catch and plenty of people looking to stave off the often-oppressive Northern Territory heat.

Though not officially the world’s whitest beach, there’s no denying the sugary stretch of sand is something to behold. Visit at sunrise or sunset if you desperately want to see it but keep in mind the Jervis Bay region is practically littered with just-as-pale, yet quieter, beaches, such as Callala Bay and Hole in the Wall.

Tucked on the edge of the Royal National Park between Waterfall and Bundeena, just south of Sydney. The car park fills up quickly in summer so signs near the entry and the Twitter account @royalparkalerts advice when it hits capacity. Get there early and make sure you purchase the $12/day parking ticket required from the seasonal ticket booths or coin and card-operated machines.

This 6.5-kilometre beach is just around the corner from the Cape Byron Lighthouse and offers plenty of space to stretch out. It’s a 25-minute walk from central Byron, or a four-minute drive. 

This sandy stretch transforms into Culburra Beach as it heads north; to get to the Currarong end you’ll need to follow Greenwell Point Road from Nowra until the signs direct you otherwise. There’s limited street parking behind the sand dunes; or, if you’re staying in Currarong proper you can wade across the creek – just keep your towel above your head.

Framed by the jagged leaves of the pandanus palm, Wategos is distinctly Byron –a sleepy stretch where long-limbed surfers mingle with backpacked-hikers, all backed by one of the country’s best boutique hotels.

You’ll have to carefully step down a sand-sheathed path to reach the Northern Beaches’ Turimetta Beach, affectionately known to locals as ‘Little Narra’ due to its proximity to Narrabeen. It’s a surfer’s paradise here and often unpatrolled, so only strong swimmers should brave the waves.

A foreshore promenade, calm waters and and surrounding cafés lends this beach a permanent air of relaxation, despite its inner city location at the edge of Vaucluse. There’s also a swathe of picnic spots to admire the sweeping Sydney Harbour views from.

A half hour drive north from holiday favourite Batemans Bay, Pebbly Beach offers a tempting seclusion from its place deep inside Murramarang National Park. If you want to extend the feeling of getting off-grid, Pebbly Beach Campground is just back from the shore.

Curling into the hammerhead-shaped peninsula of Barrenjoey Head, Palm Beach is the very northern tip of Sydney before the Hawkesbury River splits the mainland into the Central Coast. Locals love to summit the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, a half-hour bushtrack that delivers stunning views over both stretches of water.

Edged by chalk white buildings hiding delicious eateries, Balmoral’s foreshores – a 20-minute drive north of Sydney’s CBD – are swimming with relaxed locals, either sipping takeaway coffee or walking their furry companions.

Most visitors to Manly head straight for the namesake beach, a half-hour ferry ride from Circular Quay. There are plentiful quieter options however; one of which is Collins Beach, on the western side of North Head. On most visits, you’ll find a noticeable lack of people and even fewer waves, making it perfect for families

Amid a sprinkle of beautiful beaches on New South Wales’ mid-north coast, Blueys Beach holds a special place in the hearts of vacationing Aussies. Less than two hour’s drive north of Newcastle, neighbouring Boomerang and Elizabeth Beaches means you can skip through a selection, even in one day.

Why was Cabarita Beach on the Tweed Head coast recently graced with the title of the most beautiful beach in the country? It’s relatively easy to discern: sparkling waters, palm-fringed sands and a growing gourmet scene nearby makes it a wonderful destination for dining, not just swimming.

Jervis Bay has a widespread reputation for its pristine shores and Murrays Beach is no exception. The same sparkling waters abound, caressing the instantly recognisable icing sugar shores.

Wedged between two picturesque headlands, Zenith Beach is within the catchment of Tomaree National Park, some three hours drive north of Sydney. Visitors can either enjoy the water while taking a dip or from the stunning viewpoint at Tomaree Head Summit Walk, which overlooks the entire strip.

Unlike many of Sydney’s revered coastal beaches, harbourside Parsley Bay is more of a sleepy, rock-riddled cove than one that bears the deluge of frothy swell.

Tathra, a sleepy seaside town three hours southeast of Canberra, is centred around this beautiful coastline. Surfers cluster at the expansive break of Tathra Beach as it loops around a headland.

Controversy followed the decision to crown Wagga Wagga, a beach 170 kilometres from the nearest coastline, as one of the best in Australia in the 101 Best Beaches list. The riverside area is the country’s first freshwater beach and located halfway between Sydney and Melbourne.

Literally down the road from Yamba, Angourie offers many of the attractions of its better-known neighbour but with fewer tourists. Angourie Point, the area’s famous exposed point break, has been enticing surfers to this part of the Clarence Valley since the 1960s.

Holidaymakers often find their way to Palm Cove, a pleasingly flat, sleepy beach an hour north of Cairns. Backed by a swathe of beachfront hotels, there are activities aplenty available from Palm Cove Watersports, including paddleboarding and snorkelling - both of which are perfect for outdoorsy kids.

On the waterside edge of a national park of the same name, this beach is as pristine as they come. It’s a 40-minute drive north of Mackay, then a very short walk through the rainforest – hopefully spotting some Ulysses butterflies flitting about – to get to the water.

The Gold Coast isn’t all glitzy beaches. Tallebudgera Beach, at the mouth of the eponymous creek, is in between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach, 25 minutes south of Surfers Paradise. It’s far more chilled and easily accessible by car or by walking the entire length of the beach, a feat which takes around three hours.

The deceptively named Nudey Beach sits on Fitzroy Island’s western shores, reached after a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns – or, for the adventurous, following a wander through the island’s national park. Named the country’s best back in 2017, it’s not a nudist beach but we do recommend stripping down to your bathers for a dip.

Located 90 kilometres south of Brisbane between Surfers Paradise to the north and Coolangatta to the south, this beach is a real all-rounder: there are topnotch waves around the headland – it hosts the annual Quiksilver Pro – but there are also calm swimming conditions closer to shore.

Reach Magnetic Island by ferry from Townsville. From there, hire a car and/or explore on foot: from the Forts car park it’s a six-kilometre return walk to the idyllic Radical Beach, each step revealing a natural spectacle of boulder-strewn headlands, coral reefs and bloodwood forests.

One of Hamilton Island’s main beaches, Catseye is located on the resort side of the island – depending upon your hotel’s location it’s either a walk or a short golf-buggy drive away. It’s a beautiful crescent of white sand, gently bowing palms and turquoise water and offers all manner of watersports.

Fraser Island is located south of the Great Barrier Reef and reached by ferry or barge from Hervey Bay. Because of rough waters and sharks, the waters surrounding the gorgeous sandy stretch of coastline aren’t safe for swimming. The best swimming spots are inland – and Champagne Pools is our favourite. Swim in this ocean pool, so-named for the waves crashing in over the rock barrier causing a frothing natural spa.

Kirra is thought be a local Indigenous word for boomerang, a good visual descriptor for this beach that bends around Kirra Point, a small rocky headland that separates it from Coolangatta. It’s about 40 minutes’ drive south of the Gold Coast and a true surf beach: the breaks are world class and the vibe is laidback.

There’s a 3.5-kilometre walking track that begins at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach, and it’s possible to arrive by boat during high tide. The beach is made up of the same powdery white sand that made Whitehaven famous but the difference here is the people – or rather, the lack of. It’s also more exposed to prevailing winds and its rugged beauty lends itself well to Robinson Crusoe fantasies. 

On the other side of Hill Inlet from Whitehaven Beach, this beauty is all white sand, jagged rock formations and hardy coastal greenery. The shallow waters are excellent for lolling about, and you may spot the odd stingray. 

Bribie Island is 45 minutes drive from Brisbane and connected to the mainland by the Bribie Island Bridge. It has several great beaches but Sylvan Beach gets our tick thanks to its excellent swimming conditions, plentiful picnic spots and boat-hire for beachgoers who want to circumnavigate the island. 

This surfing mecca is a 90-minute drive west of Melbourne along the picturesque Great Ocean Road. Turn off just after Jan Juc and follow the signs to the 200-vehicle car park.

Wrap two must-do Melbourne experiences into one day by catching the tram from the CBD to St Kilda. The quickest rides – less than half an hour – are the No. 16 from Swanston Street, No. 96 from Bourke Street and No. 12 from Collins Street.

There are myriad entry points to the 145-kilometre-long beach on Victoria’s souther-eastern edge. Its starting point is widely considered to be Woodside Beach, three hours east of Melbourne. Unless you’re staying locally, driving is the best option.

This quartz-based beach is on the western edge of Wilson Promontory, the little arrow of land that kicks out from Victoria’s south-eastern corner. Follow Wilsons Promontory Road through the national park until you reach the marked car park; from there, it’s a five-minute walk through the bush to hear the sand release its signature squeak with every step you take.

Kitty Miller Bay is one of the best snorkelling spots on Phillip Island, the little speck connected to the Australian mainland via a bridge from San Remo. It’s just over two hours from Melbourne, making it an easy day trip if you leave early and stay to watch the sunset.

Wedged between the stately Twelve Apostles and the Twelve Apostles Marine Park, the town of Port Campbell is a small idyllic spot along the famed Great Ocean Road. It’s crowning glory is Port Campbell beach, where a shimmer of basin of clear waters creeping into white sands.

A half hour drive south of Melbourne CBD will bring you to Brighton Beach, one of the most recognisable stretches of sand in the country. It isn’t the natural scenery that garners attention, however; it’s the colourful beach boxes that permanently rest on the sand. 

Surfers aren’t the only sport-lovers who visit Thirteenth Beach, a 25-minute drive south of Geelong. The 4.5-kilometre stretch sits alongside a popular golf course, giving it its unique name.

Wild and windswept and just south of Torquay, Jan Juc Beach marks the beginning of popular routes along the Great Ocean Road both in spirit and on a map. For both surfers and swimmers it’s a mecca of activities, as well as a great introduction to what you’ll find further down the bucket list trail.

In the late 18th century, the limestone cliffs of Walkerville Beach, two and half hours south of Melbourne, were mined for their limestone. These days, they still stand resplendent, hugging the beach ever-so atmospherically.

Coves along the Great Ocean Road aren’t just great for swimming and surfing, as Anglesey Beach can attest. Portions of the Surf Coast Walk, a 44-kilometre path skimming jewels of the Great Ocean Road, meet at Anglesey, giving visitors the opportunity to explore nearby riverbanks and heaths, as well as frothy shores.

Henley Beach is a suburb 20 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, as well as a swimmable beach. There’s plenty of parking near the shore if you are coming by car (though much of it is timed to a max of three hours) so if you’re coming from Adelaide, catch the H30 bus from the Botanic Gardens to the beach.

This broad beach is the most popular beach in the city. You could go straight after landing at the airport – it’s just a five minute drive –but if you want to settle into your hotel first, it’s just 20 minutes from the city. Alternatively. Catch the bus or the Bay Tram from the city centre, or hire a free Adelaide City Bike and follow the trail to the shore.

Anglers, surfers and picnickers alike love Vivonne Bay, a 45-minute drive from Kingscote. Not far east from these white sands is Seal Bay Conservation Park, a stretch of coast that Australia’s third largest sea lion colony calls home.

There aren’t just swimming opportunities at South Australia’s Coffin Bay – this spot, a half hour drive from Port Lincoln, is also famous for its namesake oyster. Cool off with a swim, then slurp on some of the area’s finest spoils.

Snorkellers and divers will adore Rapid Bay, 100 kilometres south of the state capital. Not only are the clear waters teeming with tropical fish but there are also a number of shipwrecks to explore, too.

Often admired from above thanks to its surrounding rolling green hills, this small and slightly hidden beach is just as pretty from the sand. Walkers will be led past this spot on the stunning Heysen Trail but visitors from Adelaide, a two-hour-drive north, can drive straight into a car park and make their way down via a trail winding down the hill.

The highlight of Innes National Park, a toe of national park on the Yorke Peninsula, Horseshoe Bay is ringed by a mound of white dunes and blessed with clear lapping waters, often delivering great surf. While it’s a four hour-drive from Adelaide CBD, the long trip is certainly worth it.

From the street, swimmers will need to descend a picturesque wooden staircase to take a dip in Port Noarlunga’s Southport Beach, a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide. Seas are calm and patrolled so it’s the perfect spot for a family outing.

An hour’s drive south of Adelaide CBD, it doesn’t take long to reach the paradise of Sellicks, where the puffed green cliffs drop directly into the ocean. The world-famous wine region of McLaren Vale isn’t far, either – the flat is less than 20 minutes east of the shore.

If Cape Jervis was a foot, Waitpinga would be the ball of the peninsula. A mere hour and a half south of the centre of Adelaide, it’s often wild and windswept, with brave surfers making their way out through whitewash.

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